View source for Finns Party

{{Short description|Finnish political party}}
{{For|the political party known as ”Finnish Party” (1860s–1910s)|Finnish Party}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|True Finns|Finns proper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| logo_size        = 180px
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| name             = Finns Party
| native_name      = {{native name|fi|Perussuomalaiset|italics=no}}<br />{{native name|sv|Sannfinländarna|italics=no}}
| native_name_lang = fi
| logo             = Perussuomalaiset Logo.svg
| chairperson      = [[Riikka Purra]]
| secretary        = {{ill|Harri Vuorenpää|fi}}
| leader1_title    = [[Parliamentary group leader]]
| leader1_name     = [[Jani Mäkelä]]
| leader2_title    = First deputy chair
| leader2_name     = [[Teemu Keskisarja]]
| abbreviation     = PS<br />Sannf
| founders         = [[Timo Soini]]<br />[[Raimo Vistbacka]]<br />{{ill|Kari Bärlund|fi}}<br />{{ill|Urpo Leppänen|fi}}
| foundation       = 11 May 1995
| membership_year  = 2021
| membership       = {{Increase}} 15,700<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tällaisia ovat suurimpien puolueiden jäsenet: MTV Uutiset selvitti iät ja sukupuolijakauman – keskustalla, SDP:llä ja vihreillä selvät erityispiirteensä |last=Neihum |first=Alec|work=MTV Uutiset |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=7 February 2022 |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/tallaisia-ovat-suurimpien-puolueiden-jasenet-mtv-uutiset-selvitti-iat-ja-sukupuolen-keskustalla-sdp-lla-ja-vihreilla-selvat-erityispiirteensa/|language=fi}}</ref>
| predecessor      = {{Nowrap|[[Finnish Rural Party]] (''de facto'')}}
| headquarters     = Yrjönkatu 8–10B,<br />00120 [[Helsinki]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/yhteystiedot/puoluetoimisto/|title=Puoluetoimisto – Perussuomalaiset |publisher=Perussuomalaiset.fi |access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>
| newspaper        = ''{{ill|Perussuomalainen (magazine)|fi|Perussuomalainen}} ''<br />''{{ill|Suomen Uutiset|fi|Suomen Uutiset (verkkolehti)}}''
| think_tank       = {{ill|Suomen Perusta|fi}}
| youth_wing       = [[Finns Party Youth]]<br />(2006–2020)<br />{{ill|The Finns Party Youth|fi|Perussuomalainen Nuoriso}}<br />(2020–)
| womens_wing      = {{ill|Finns Party Women|fi|Perussuomalaiset Naiset}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=NYTKIS – The Coalition of Finnish Women´s Associations |publisher=The Coalition of Finnish Women´s Associations |access-date=20 February 2024|url= https://nytkis.org/en/etusivu/ }}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap| <!-- Sources are listed in the introduction, sources are not needed here -->
| [[National conservatism]]
| [[Right-wing populism]]
| [[Euroscepticism]]
}}
| position         = [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]] to [[Far-right politics|far-right]]
| international    = 
| european         = [[European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates]]
| europarl         = [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy|EFD]] (2009–2014)<br>[[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|ECR Group]] (2014–2019, since 2023)<br>[[Identity and Democracy|ID Group]] (2019–2023)
| affiliation1_title = Nordic affiliation
| affiliation1     = [[Nordic Freedom]]
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/ -->
| seats1_title     = [[Parliament of Finland|Eduskunta]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats3_title     = [[List of municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|651|8586|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| seats4           = {{Infobox political party/seats|105|1379|{{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Wellbeing services counties of Finland|County seats]]
| colours          = {{ubl|{{color box|{{party color|Finns Party}}|border=darkgray}} Gold|{{color box|#0036a5|border=darkgray}} Dark blue|{{color box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} White}}
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Finland
| wing1            = {{ill|Peruspuurtajat|fi}}
| wing1_title      = Worker's wing
}}

The '''Finns Party'''<ref name="perussuomalaiset.fi">{{cite web|url= https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-english/ |title=Finns Party – In English – Perussuomalaiset |publisher=Perussuomalaiset.fi |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-6711536|title=Finns Party ponders power|website=Yle Uutiset |date=30 June 2013 |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="eduskunta.fi">{{cite web |url= https://www.eduskunta.fi/EN/kansanedustajat/eduskuntaryhmät/Pages/default.aspx|title=The parliamentary groups |website=eduskunta.fi |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> ({{langx|fi|Perussuomalaiset}} {{IPA|fi|ˈperusˌsuo̯mɑlɑi̯set|}}, '''PS'''; {{langx|sv|Sannfinländarna}}, '''Sannf'''), formerly known as the '''True Finns''',{{refn|The party did not have an official English name until 2011,<ref name="The Finns">Yle Uutiset: [https://yle.fi/a/3-5410148 "True Finns" name their party "The Finns"], retrieved 20 February 2024</ref> but the name 'True Finns' was originally used by the party itself<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/true_finns.html |title=Perussuomalaiset – True Finns |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209115422/http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/true_finns.html |archive-date=9 December 2007 }}</ref> and is still occasionally used by the international media. The party's Finnish name has always remained the same and ''Perussuomalaiset'' would effectively translate as 'Ordinary Finns', 'Regular Finns' or 'Typical Finns'. In August 2011, the party began using 'The Finns' as an official English name – the party chairman at the time, [[Timo Soini]], said that the new name captured the image of the movement as a party of ordinary Finns.<ref name="The Finns"/><ref>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225200049/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Perussuomalaiset+otti+k%C3%A4ytt%C3%B6%C3%B6n+englanninkielisen+nimen/1135268708128?cmp=nl-220811 | url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Perussuomalaiset+otti+käyttöön+englanninkielisen+nimen/1135268708128?cmp=nl-220811|archive-date=25 February 2014|title = Perussuomalaiset otti käyttöön englanninkielisen nimen | date = 21 August 2011 | work = Helsingin Sanomat | agency = STT | language = fi}}</ref> However, the party's and the Finnish parliament's English-language websites use the less confusing name, the 'Finns Party'.<ref name="eduskunta.fi"/>}} is a [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] [[List of political parties in Finland|political party]] in [[Finland]].<ref name=":0" /> It was founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the [[Finnish Rural Party]].

The party achieved its electoral breakthrough in the [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election]], when it won 19.1% of votes,<ref name="hs.fi">{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/bSUNDAY+EVENING++ELECTION+SPECIAL+-++MASSIVE+GAINS+FOR+TRUE+FINNS+AND+A+BAD+NIGHT+FOR+THE+CENTRE+PARTY+AS+FINLAND+EXPERIENCES+SWEEPING+PROTEST+VOTE++NATIONAL+COALITION+WILL+BE+LARGEST+PARTY++Updated+2355b/1135265468735 |title=Helsingin Sanomat, April 18, 2011, 'SUNDAY EVENING : ELECTION SPECIAL' |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810064304/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/bSUNDAY+EVENING++ELECTION+SPECIAL+-++MASSIVE+GAINS+FOR+TRUE+FINNS+AND+A+BAD+NIGHT+FOR+THE+CENTRE+PARTY+AS+FINLAND+EXPERIENCES+SWEEPING+PROTEST+VOTE++NATIONAL+COALITION+WILL+BE+LARGEST+PARTY++Updated+2355b/1135265468735 |archive-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> becoming the third largest party in the [[Parliament of Finland]].<ref>Yle Uutiset: [https://vaalit.yle.fi/tulospalvelu/2011/index.html General Elections 2011 in Finland – Result by party] {{Cite web|url=https://vaalit.yle.fi/tulospalvelu/2011/index.html|title= General Elections 2011 in Finland – Result by party |date=20 April 2011|access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref> 

In the [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015 election]] the party got 17.7% of the votes, making it the parliament's second-largest political party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vaalit.yle.fi/results/2015/parliamentary_election/?candidates_##taulukko|title=Parliamentary Elections 2015 in Finland|website=Parliamentary Elections 2015 in Finland}}</ref> The party was in opposition for the first 20 years of its existence. In 2015, it joined the [[coalition government]] formed by Prime Minister [[Juha Sipilä]].

Following a 2017 split, over half of the party's MPs left the parliamentary group and were subsequently expelled from their membership in the party. This defector group, [[Finnish Reform Movement|Blue Reform]], continued to support the government coalition, while the Finns Party went into opposition. The party, having been reduced to 17 seats after the split, increased its representation to 39 seats in the [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election]], while Blue Reform failed to win any seats.

During the [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election]], the Finns Party finished in second place with 46 seats, recording their strongest result since its founding. They then, out of [[Petteri Orpo]]'s request, proceeded to form a [[coalition government]] with the winning [[National Coalition Party]], the [[Christian Democrats (Finland)|Christian Democrats]] and [[Swedish People's Party of Finland]]. The party currently holds seven of nineteen ministerial portfolios in the [[Orpo Cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eduskunta.fi/hallitustunnustelut?TSPD_101_R0=0814c91602ab20001897657eb4c424beca275ee28980ce3afd572aae5c8f8935ee448bfadcb4410f08aa7730b3143000723829920c2032935af3cfef5bd19b1c9b0f688359bb981d4809e9f7bfd12ba87527451fec97742e3c4949cfc5388488|title=Hallitustunnustelut ja hallitusneuvottelut 2023|website=Eduskunta|date=16 May 2023}}</ref>

==History==

===Finnish Rural Party===
The predecessor of the Finns Party was the [[Finnish Rural Party]] (SMP), founded by Agrarian League dissident [[Veikko Vennamo]] in 1959. Vennamo ran into serious disagreement with Arvo Korsimo, the Agrarian League's [[party secretary]], and was excluded from the [[parliamentary group]]. As a result, Vennamo immediately started building his own organization and founded the Finnish Rural Party. Vennamo was a [[populism|populist]] and became a critic of President [[Urho Kekkonen]] and of political corruption within the "old parties", particularly the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] (the renamed Agrarian League). The Rural Party achieved two major victories in the elections of [[1970 Finnish parliamentary election|1970]] and [[1983 Finnish parliamentary election|1983]], winning 18 and 17 seats, respectively.

In the 1970s, Vennamo's personalized leadership style alienated some in the party, which led to a split in the parliamentary group in 1972. After the Rural Party's new rise in 1983 under Vennamo's son Pekka, the party became a partner in two [[coalition government]]s. However, the party's support declined steadily in the late-1980s and early-1990s. In [[1995 Finnish parliamentary election|1995]], the party won only one seat in the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish parliament]] and soon filed for bankruptcy.

===Founding of the Finns Party and its rise in popularity===
[[File:Perussuomalaiset Hakaniemen torilla.jpg|thumb|Stall at [[Hakaniemi]] square, [[Helsinki]] in 2010.]]

In the summer of 1995, following the collapse of the Finnish Rural Party, the decision to found the Finns Party was made by [[Timo Soini]], [[Raimo Vistbacka]], Urpo Leppänen and Kari Bärlund. Soini had been the Rural Party's last party secretary and Vistbacka its last chair and [[Member of parliament|MP]]. The party collected the five thousand signatures needed for registration and was added to the official party register on 13 October 1995.<ref>[http://www.vaalit.fi/15366.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224015044/http://www.vaalit.fi/15366.htm|date=24 February 2011}}</ref> The first [[Party conference|party congress]] was held in November. Vistbacka was elected [[party chair]] and Soini the party secretary.<ref>[[Etelä-Suomen Sanomat]], [[Maari Vaaherkumpu]], 23 April 2011, page 15</ref>

It took some time before the Finns Party gained ground in Finnish elections. At the time of its founding in 1995, the party's sole MP was Vistbacka, who was reelected in the [[1999 Finnish parliamentary election|1999 election]]. In [[2003 Finnish parliamentary election|2003]], the party won three seats: besides Vistbacka, Soini and [[Tony Halme]] were elected. In the [[2007 Finnish parliamentary election|2007]], the party gained two further seats for a total of five. In the [[2008 Finnish municipal election|2008 municipal election]], the Finns Party were most successful in those districts where the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]] and the [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]] lost most.<ref name="2008analysis">[http://www.stat.fi/til/kvaa/2008/kvaa_2008_2008-10-27_kat_002_en.html Party analysis – the Finns Party won the day]. Statistics Finland</ref> In the [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011 election]], the Centre Party suffered the largest blow from the Finns Party's success.

According to a 2008–2009 study, Finns Party supporters viewed themselves as [[Centrism|centrist]]: on a scale where 1 was extreme left and 10 was extreme right, the average supporter placed themselves at 5.4. According to the same study, the supporters were united by patriotism and [[social conservatism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/talous_ja_politiikka/2009/02/perussuomalaiset_nakertavat_keskustan_kannatusta_555161.html |title=Perussuomalaiset nakertavat keskustan kannatusta &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=18 February 2009 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> A 2011 study indicated that the Finns Party was the most popular party among voters with an annual income of 35,000–50,000 [[euro]]s, while over a quarter of the party's voters earn over 50,000 per year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Joonas Laitinen Sähköposti |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Perussuomalaiset+on+hyvin+toimeentulevan+ty%C3%B6v%C3%A4est%C3%B6n+puolue/1135269068554 |title=Perussuomalaiset on hyvin toimeentulevan työväestön puolue – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="stakes.fi">[http://www.stakes.fi/yp/2011/4/rahkonen.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109122656/http://www.stakes.fi/yp/2011/4/rahkonen.pdf|date=9 November 2011}}</ref> The same study also indicated that the party's voters included a higher percentage of [[blue-collar worker]]s than those of the Social Democrats.<ref name="stakes.fi"/>

====Timo Soini====
[[File:Timo Soini 2015.JPG|thumb|Timo Soini, chairperson for 20 years.]]
Timo Soini led the Finns Party for twenty years, from 1997 until 2017. He was first elected to the parliament in 2003. He was the party's candidate in the [[2006 Finnish presidential election|2006 presidential election]], and was elected to the [[European Parliament]] in [[2009 European Parliament election in Finland|2009]] with the highest personal vote share in the country.<ref>[http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/EP2009/s/tulos/ehdtulos_kokomaa.html European Parliament election, 2009], Ministry of Justice, accessed 5 April 2015</ref> He served as an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] for two years, returning to the Finnish parliament in the 2011 election. Soini was the party's presidential candidate for a second time in the [[2012 Finnish presidential election|election of 2012]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Soinin+minimitavoite+p%C3%A4%C3%A4st%C3%A4+toiselle+kierrokselle/a1305547278525 |title=Soinin minimitavoite päästä toiselle kierrokselle – Timo Soini – Politiikka – Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> [[Jussi Halla-aho]] succeeded Soini as party chair in 2017.

===2011–2017===
The Finns Party obtained 39 seats in the 2011 election, making them the third largest party, narrowly behind the [[National Coalition Party]] (44) and the Social Democrats (42). Soini received 43,212 personal votes, the highest number of all candidates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/teemat/vaalit_2011/2011/04/soini_nousi_aanikuninkaaksi_2522915.html |title=YLE – Soini nousi äänikuninkaaksi, 17.4.2011 |date=17 April 2011 |publisher=Yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> leaving behind the Foreign Minister [[Alexander Stubb]] and the Finance Minister [[Jyrki Katainen]] in their [[Uusimaa (parliamentary electoral district)|Uusimaa]] electoral district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yle.fi/vaalit/tulospalvelu/2011/uusimaa_ehdokkaiden_aanimaarat_2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528074842/http://yle.fi/vaalit/tulospalvelu/2011/uusimaa_ehdokkaiden_aanimaarat_2.html|url-status=dead|title=YLE – Uusimaa – Ehdokkaiden äänimäärät, 18.4.2011|archivedate=28 May 2013}}</ref> The popularity of the party rose from 4.1% to 19.1% in just four years. ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' wrote in an editorial that the party and Soini had "rewritten the electoral history books".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/EDITORIAL+Timo+Soini+rewrote+the+electoral+history+books/1135265495084 |title=Helsingin Sanomat, April 18, 2011, 'EDITORIAL: Timo Soini rewrote the electoral history books' |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104210932/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/EDITORIAL+Timo+Soini+rewrote+the+electoral+history+books/1135265495084 |archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> According to political analyst [[Jan Sundberg]], Soini had the ability to appeal to common people and make complicated things look easy.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |title=Profile: Finland's Timo Soini |first=Patrick |last=Jackson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13111468 |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=17 April 2011 |access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref> The election result was also referred to as "shocking" and "exceptional".<ref name="hs.fi"/>

After the election, the National Coalition Party (NCP) began negotiations aiming to form a cabinet between the NCP, the Social Democrats, and the Finns Party. However, when it became clear that the NCP and the Social Democrats would continue to support EU bailouts, which the Finns Party vehemently opposed during the electoral campaign, the party voluntarily broke from the negotiations to become the leading opposition party. Soini said that the party would not compromise its core principles just to enter the government.<ref>{{cite web |author=Teija Sutinen Kirjoittaja on politiikan toimittaja. |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Soini+j%C3%A4tt%C3%A4ytyi+oppositioon+dramaattisissa+tunnelmissa/1135266087236 |title=Soini jättäytyi oppositioon dramaattisissa tunnelmissa – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828080248/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Soini+j%C3%A4tt%C3%A4ytyi+oppositioon+dramaattisissa+tunnelmissa/1135266087236 |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref> According to an opinion poll, most of the party's supporters accepted this decision.<ref>{{cite web |author=Miska Rantanen Kirjoittaja on politiikan toimittaja. |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/HS-gallup+Soinin+oppositioratkaisulle+vankka+tuki+%C3%A4%C3%A4nest%C3%A4jilt%C3%A4/1135266284515 |title=HS-gallup: Soinin oppositioratkaisulle vankka tuki äänestäjiltä – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523132222/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/HS-gallup+Soinin+oppositioratkaisulle+vankka+tuki+%C3%A4%C3%A4nest%C3%A4jilt%C3%A4/1135266284515 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Finns Party's popularity initially continued to rise after the 2011 election: in one opinion poll from June 2011 gave the party a record popularity of 23 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/talous_ja_politiikka/2011/06/perussuomalaiset_nousi_suosituimmaksi_puolueeksi_2695250.html |title=Perussuomalaiset nousi suosituimmaksi puolueeksi &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=30 June 2011 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party's membership rose to over 8,000 members by 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Vihreiden+ja+perussuomalaisten+j%C3%A4senm%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4t+vahvassa+nousussa/a1364692661448 |title=Vihreiden ja perussuomalaisten jäsenmäärät vahvassa nousussa – Puoluekannatus – Politiikka – Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> (up from circa 5,500 in 2011<ref>{{cite web |author=STT |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Vihreiden+j%C3%A4senm%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4+kasvanut+r%C3%A4j%C3%A4hdysm%C3%A4isesti/1135267497920 |title=Vihreiden jäsenmäärä kasvanut räjähdysmäisesti – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |date=7 February 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104210902/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Vihreiden+j%C3%A4senm%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4+kasvanut+r%C3%A4j%C3%A4hdysm%C3%A4isesti/1135267497920 |archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> and circa 1,000 in 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kauppalehti.fi/5/i/talous/uutiset/etusivu/uutinen.jsp?oid=20110364985&ext=rss&request_ahaa_info=true |title=Perussuomalaisilla hurja tahti: "Jäseniä tulee ovista ja ikkunoista" |publisher=Kauppalehti.fi |date=1 March 2011|access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330100144/http://www.kauppalehti.fi/5/i/talous/uutiset/etusivu/uutinen.jsp?oid=20110364985&ext=rss&request_ahaa_info=true |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>). Membership in the party's [[Finns Party Youth|youth organisation]] rose as well, going from 800 before the 2011 election<ref>[http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/artikkelit/?issue=868] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714084926/http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/artikkelit/?issue=868|date=14 July 2011}}</ref> to over 2,200 in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ps-nuoret.fi/ |title=Perussuomalaiset Nuoret |publisher=Ps-nuoret.fi |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019060931/http://www.ps-nuoret.fi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The party nominated Soini as its candidate for the 2012 presidential election;<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Soini finished fourth with 9.4 percent.<ref>[http://yle.fi/vaalit/tulospalvelu/2012/presidentinvaali/ensimmainen_vaali/ehdokkaiden_kannatus.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124113514/http://yle.fi/vaalit/tulospalvelu/2012/presidentinvaali/ensimmainen_vaali/ehdokkaiden_kannatus.html|date=24 January 2012}}</ref> Soini interpreted the result by saying that half of the party's voters wanted him for president, while the other half wanted to him to remain as party chair.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tiina|last=Forsberg |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/teemat/presidentinvaalit/2012/01/soini_mikas_tassa_on_ollessa_3195451.html |title=Soini: Mikäs tässä on ollessa? &#124; Yle Uutiset |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> In [[2012 Finnish municipal elections|municipal elections later in 2012]], the party got 12.3 percent of votes and 1,195 seats in the municipal councils, up more than 750 from the previous municipal election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://192.49.229.35/K2012/e/tulos/tulos_kokomaa.html |title=Party results |access-date=26 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106175544/http://192.49.229.35/K2012/e/tulos/tulos_kokomaa.html |archive-date=6 January 2013}}</ref> However, this result saw the votes for the party shrink significantly from the 2011 parliamentary election result. The party got 12.9 percent of votes in the [[2014 European Parliament election in Finland|2014 European Parliament election]] and increased its number of MEPs to two.

In the [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015 election]], the Finns Party got 17.7% of the votes and 38 seats. This meant that they were the third largest party by votes but the second largest party by seats. The Finns Party subsequently entered into a [[Sipilä Cabinet|coalition government]] with the Centre Party and the NCP, led by Prime Minister [[Juha Sipilä]]. The party's participation in the [[Sipilä Cabinet]] marked a softening of its [[Euroscepticism|Eurosceptic]] positions. On 22 June 2016, Finns Party MP Maria Tolppanen joined the Social Democrats, after which the Finns Party had 37 seats in the parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1466560151525|title=Perussuomalaisten kansanedustaja loikkaa Sdp:n riveihin |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=22 June 2016 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> In March 2017, Soini announced that he would step down as party chair in the next party congress in June.<ref name="yle">[http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/soini_announces_he_will_not_continue_at_finns_party_helm/9492639 Soini announces he will not continue at Finns Party helm] Yle News on 5 March 2017. Retrieved on 12 March 2017.</ref>

=== 2017 leadership election and splits ===

In June 2017, [[Jussi Halla-aho]] and [[Sampo Terho]] faced off in the [[2017 Finns Party leadership election|leadership election]], in which Halla-aho received 949 votes against Terho's 646 votes and thus succeeded Soini as party chair.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/jussi_halla-aho_elected_finns_party_leader/9662264 Jussi Halla-aho elected Finns Party leader] YLE 10 June 2017</ref> Sipilä and [[Minister of Finance (Finland)|Minister of Finance]] [[Petteri Orpo]] soon announced that they would not continue their coalition with the Finns Party if it was led by Halla-aho.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_govt_implodes_centre_ncp_say_deal_off_with_finns_party/9664904 Finnish govt implodes: Centre, NCP say deal off with Finns Party] YLE 13 June 2017</ref> Subsequently, twenty Finns Party MPs, including Soini and Terho, defected to form a new parliamentary group under the name New Alternative, later renamed to [[Finnish Reform Movement|Blue Reform]] and after that, in 2022, into [[Finnish Reform Movement]]. As all cabinet ministers were among the defectors, the then Blue Reform made an agreement with Sipilä to stay in the government.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finns_party_splinters_new_group_makes_bid_for_sipila_government/9666946 Finns Party splinters, new group makes bid for Sipilä government] YLE 13 June 2017</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/pm_sipila_government_to_continue_with_new_alternative/9667365 PM Sipilä: "Government to continue" with New Alternative] YLE 13 June 2017</ref>

Following the split, MPs [[Veera Ruoho]] and [[Arja Juvonen]] left the Finns Party parliamentary group to continue as [[independent politician|independent]]s, after which the party's seats were reduced to fifteen.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9666816 Tällainen on Uusi vaihtoehto – Nämä kansanedustajat jättivät perussuomalaiset] Yle 13 June 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005253183.html Perussuomalaisten Arja Juvonen: ”En kuulu mihinkään ryhmään”] Ilta-Sanomat 13 June 2017</ref> All of the defecting MPs were subsequently expelled from the Finns Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005258005.html|title=Jussi Halla-aho hämmentävän viikon jälkeen: "Ystävyyssuhteet kovalla koetuksella"|date=16 June 2017|website=Ilta-Sanomat}}</ref> In the following weeks, MPs [[Ritva Elomaa]] and Arja Juvonen regretted their decision and re-joined the party, raising the amount of MPs to seventeen.<ref>[http://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005269626.html Kansanedustaja Arja Juvonen palaa perussuomalaisten eduskuntaryhmään] Ilta-Sanomat 27 June 2017</ref>

[[File:Ps-vaalikoju2018.jpg|thumb|Election tent in 2018.]]

The party nominated MP [[Laura Huhtasaari]] as its candidate for the [[2018 Finnish presidential election|2018 presidential election]]. In the election, Huhtasaari placed third with 6.9 percent of the votes, while the incumbent president [[Sauli Niinistö]] went on to secure his second term with a majority of votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/TPV-2018_1/fi/ehdtulos_kokomaa.html |title=Presidentinvaali 2018, 1. vaali: Ehdokkaiden äänet|publisher=Ministry of Justice|date=28 January 2018 |access-date=31 January 2018 |language=fi}}</ref>

=== 2019 general election and revival ===

At the [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election]], the Finns Party finished in second place and increased its number of MPs to 39 (with its strongest result being in [[Satakunta (parliamentary electoral district)|Satakunta]]) while the breakaway [[Finnish Reform Movement|Blue Reform]] party lost all of its seats.

On 21 June 2021, Jussi Halla-aho announced that he would retire from his position as a party leader in August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/6baab070-d332-4447-ad6e-fb6b064828f7|title=Jussi Halla-aho luopuu PS:n puheenjohtajuudesta – teki päätöksen vuosi sitten|website=www.iltalehti.fi}}</ref> He was succeeded by MP [[Riikka Purra]] on 14 August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000008192399.html|title=Riikka Purra perussuomalaisten puheenjohtajaksi, näin puolueväki kommentoi: "Maltillinen, mutta todella määrätietoinen nainen", "Olisin ennemmin toivonut miestä"|work=Helsingin Sanomat| date=14 August 2021|access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref>

Since 2020, further minor splits have emerged within the party, forming the [[Power Belongs to the People]] party and [[Blue-and-Black Movement]].

During the [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election]] the party finished in second place ahead of the Social Democrats with 20% of the vote and 46 seats, marking the strongest result to date for the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2023/04/06/the-pendulum-swings-to-the-right-again-in-finland/|title=The pendulum swings to the right again in Finland|website=blogs.lse.ac.uk/|date=6 April 2023 }}</ref>

In April 2023, [[National Coalition Party]] leader [[Petteri Orpo]] announced his attention to form a governing coalition with the Finns Party, [[Swedish People's Party of Finland|Swedish People's Party]], and the [[Christian Democrats (Finland)|Christian Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finlands-election-winner-seeks-govern-with-anti-immigration-party-2023-04-27/|title=Finland's election winner seeks to govern with anti-immigration party|website=www.reuters.com |date=27 April 2023 }}</ref>

In the [[Orpo Cabinet]], the Finns have seven ministers out of 19.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-06|title=Perussuomalaiset valitsi ministerinsä|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20008814/64-3-159754|work=Yle Uutiset|date=15 December 2022 }}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government | title=Racism and rape fantasies: A PR headache for Finland's new government | date=20 June 2023 }}</ref> Former party leader [[Jussi Halla-aho]] was elected [[Speaker of the Parliament of Finland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20037932|title=Immigration hardliner Halla-aho elected as Finland's Speaker of Parliament|work=[[Yle News]]|date=21 June 2023|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref>

===In the European Parliament===
When the Finns Party first gained representation in the European Parliament in 2009, it became a founding member of the [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy]] Group (EFD) in the Parliament. After the 2014 election, the party chose to leave the EFD to join the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|European Conservatives and Reformists]] Group (ECR). Commenting on the party's choice of group, party secretary Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo said in 2014 that joining a right-wing parliamentary group would not change the party's characteristic of being a "centre-left workers' party".<ref>"Me olemme vasemmistokeskustalainen työväenpuolue. Se asia ei muuksi muutu euroryhmän valinnankaan myötä". [http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/politiikka/Slunga%20Poutsalo%20ECR%20ryhm%C3%A4valinnasta-21625 PS:n puoluesihteeri: Olemme yhä työväenpuolue, euroryhmävaihdos ei muuta asiaa] Verkkouutiset.fi, 5 June 2014, accessed 15 August 2014.</ref> After the 2019 election, the party joined the [[Identity and Democracy]] Group; however, this decision was reverted after the 2023 parliamentary election, with the Finns Party rejoining the ECR after a four-year break.<ref name="auto7">[https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/ps-vaihtaa-ryhmaa-euroopan-parlamentissa/ PS vaihtaa ryhmää Euroopan parlamentissa] Verkkouutiset.fi, 5 April 2023, 5 April 2023.</ref>

==Ideology==
Ideologically, the Finns Party has been described as [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]<ref name=Economist /><ref>{{cite news |publisher=Finnish Broadcasting Company |date=12 June 2017 |title=Onko perussuomalaiset muuttunut äärioikeistolaiseksi – neljä asiantuntijaa vastaa |trans-title=Has the Finns Party turned into a far-right party? – four experts answer|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9664283 |access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref> and [[Far-right politics|far-right]].{{refn|<ref name="auto3">{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1111/j.1477-7053.2010.01321.x|title = The Breakthrough of Another West European Populist Radical Right Party? The Case of the True Finns|year = 2010|last1 = Arter|first1 = David|journal = Government and Opposition|volume = 45|issue = 4|pages = 484–504|s2cid = 145179536|doi-access = free}}</ref><ref name="finns">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190531-finnish-centre-left-parties-agree-form-government|title=Finnish centre-left parties agree to form government|quote=Rinne led his party to a razor-thin victory in last month's general election, holding off the far-right Finns Party which surged into second place on an anti-immigration agenda.|work=FRANCE 24|date=31 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/14/finland-s-social-democrats-win-first-place-in-advance-voting|title=Finland's Social Democrats win razor-thin victory against far-right party|quote=Finland's leftist Social Democrats won first place in Sunday's general election with 17.7% of the votes, avoiding a near defeat by the far-right Finns Party, which rose in the ranks with an anti-immigration agenda.|work=euronews|date=15 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto6">{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/21/world/politics-diplomacy-world/look-euroskeptic-populist-forces-european-union/|title=A look at euroskeptic and populist forces in the European Union|quote=Finland's far-right, anti-immigration Finns Party more than doubled its seats in April national elections, closely tailing the leftist Social Democrats who won only narrowly.|work=The Japan Times|date=21 May 2019|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926060716/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/21/world/politics-diplomacy-world/look-euroskeptic-populist-forces-european-union/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto5">{{cite web|url=https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/six-mps-far-right-finns-party-criminal-record/|title=Six MPs of the far-right Finns Party with a criminal record|work=European Interest|date=19 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/27978/can-finland-s-new-center-left-government-keep-the-far-right-at-bay|title=Can Finland's New Center-Left Government Keep the Far Right at Bay?|work=World Politics Review|date=25 June 2019}}</ref>}} It is a [[Finnish nationalism|nationalist]]<ref name="ciac">{{cite news |url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/finland/parties.html |title=Political parties |work=CivicActive |access-date=13 March 2010}}</ref> and [[National conservatism|national-conservative]]<ref>{{citation |title=Flags and hymns are not for Finns: An analysis of the European elections in Finland before the fact |page=4 |first=Aaretti |last=Siitonen |work=[[The Finnish Institute of International Affairs]] |year=2009 |url=http://www.fiia.fi/assets/events/UPI_Briefing_Paper_32_2009.pdf |access-date=3 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802091411/http://www.fiia.fi/assets/events/UPI_Briefing_Paper_32_2009.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Nordsieck/> party that [[Opposition to immigration|opposes immigration]],<ref name=Economist /> while on foreign stances it is [[Euroscepticism|Eurosceptic]].<ref name="ciac"/><ref name=Economist>{{cite news|date=17 April 2019 |title=The right-wing Finns Party does well in Finland's election|url= https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/17/the-right-wing-finns-party-does-well-in-finlands-election|newspaper= The Economist|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref> The party combines right-wing economic policies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://utak.fi/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Karryla-web.pdf|first=Ilkka|last=Kärrylä|title=POHJOISMAINEN MALLI JA SEN NELJÄ POIKKEUSTA|publisher=Uuden talousajattelun keskus|date=11 March 2024|access-date=5 April 2024|location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sak.fi/ajankohtaista/painava-syy/orpon-purran-hallituksen-leikkauslista|title=Orpon-Purran hallituksen leikkauslista|website=SAK|location=[[Hakaniemi]]|language=fi|access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref> and [[economic nationalism]]<ref>{{cite book |first=Mikko |last=Kuisma |chapter="Good" and "Bad" Immigrants: The Economic Nationalism of the True Finns' Immigration Discourse |title=The Discourses and Politics of Migration in Europe |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2013 |page=94}}</ref> with [[Social conservatism|socially conservative values]],<ref name=Nordsieck/> and [[ethnic nationalism]].<ref name="Arter">{{citation |first=David |last=Arter |title=The Breakthrough of Another West European Populist Radical Right Party? The Case of the True Finns |journal=Government and Opposition |volume=45 |issue=4 |date=October 2010 |pages=484–504 |doi=10.1111/j.1477-7053.2010.01321.x|doi-access=free }}</ref> Several scholars have described them as radically [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]].<ref name=Nordsieck>{{cite web |url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/finland.html |title=Finland |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |date=2019 |website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Mikko |last=Kuisma |chapter="Good" and "Bad" Immigrants: The Economic Nationalism of the True Finns' Immigration Discourse |title=The Discourses and Politics of Migration in Europe |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2013 |page=93}}{{cite book |first=Björn |last=Fryklund |chapter=Populism – Changes Over Time and Space: A Comparative and Retrospective Analysis of Populist Parties in the Nordic Countries from 1965 to 2012 |title=Right-Wing Populism in Europe: Politics and Discourse |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2013 |pages=267–269}}{{cite book |first=Östen |last=Wahlbeck |chapter=Multicultural Finnish Society and Minority Rights |title=Debating Multiculturalism in the Nordic Welfare States |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2013 |pages=313–315, 320}}{{cite book |first=Johanna |last=Korhonen |chapter=Ten paths to populism: How silent Finland became a playing field for loud populism |title=Populist Fantasies: European revolts in context |publisher=Counterpoint |year=2012 |page=213 |url=http://counterpoint.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Populist-Fantasies-European-revolts-in-context.pdf |access-date=6 December 2014 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011081404/http://counterpoint.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Populist-Fantasies-European-revolts-in-context.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |first=Markku |last=Ikkala |chapter=Finland: Institutional Resistance of the Welfare State against a Basic Income |title=Basic Income Guarantee and Politics |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2012 |pages=65, 77}}{{cite book |first1=Henna |last1=Hopia |first2=Sami |last2=Metelinen |chapter=Finland: Sound Economic Policy, Long-term Challenges |title=From Reform to Growth |publisher=Centre for European Studies |year=2013 |page=165}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transform-network.net/publications/yearbook/overview/article/journal-082011/the-rise-of-right-wing-populism-in-finland-the-true-finns|title=The Rise of Right-wing Populism in Finland: The True Finns|website=www.transform-network.net|access-date=20 March 2021|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717185140/https://www.transform-network.net/publications/yearbook/overview/article/journal-082011/the-rise-of-right-wing-populism-in-finland-the-true-finns/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the parliament seating order, the party was seated in the centre of the plenary until 2019 when it was moved to the right of the plenary despite the party's opposition to the move.<ref name=":0">[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10770708 Eduskunta äänesti istumajärjestyksestä – Perussuomalaiset siirretään vasten tahtoaan istuntosalin oikeaan laitaan], Yle.fi, 7 May 2019, accessed 7 May 2019.</ref> Some of the party's supporters have described themselves as centrists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/perussuomalaiset_nakertavat_keskustan_kannatusta/555161 |title=Perussuomalaiset nakertavat keskustan kannatusta &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=18 February 2009 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party has drawn people from left-wing parties but central aspects of their manifesto<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/getfile.php?file=1536|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025074514/http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/getfile.php?file=1536|url-status=dead|title=Perussuomalaiset r.p:n eduskuntavaaliohjelma 2011/True Finn Parliamentary manifesto 2011 (only in Finnish)|archivedate=25 October 2012}}</ref> have gained support from right-wing voters as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aikalainen.uta.fi/2011/03/18/vasemmiston-ja-oikeiston-jakolinja-pysyy-ennallaan/ |title=Vasemmiston ja oikeiston jakolinja pysyy ennallaan |publisher=Aikalainen |date=2 May 2014|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/21/true-finns-nationalist-populists-european-parties |title=The True Finns followed a well-known recipe for success |work=The Guardian|date=21 April 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>{{refn|For instance, part nine of the 2011 manifesto reads: "[True] Finnish immigration policy should be based on the fact that the Finns should always be able to decide for themselves the conditions under which a foreigner can come to our country and reside in our country."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2011/02/true_finns_publish_election_manifesto_2391059.html |title=True Finns Publish Election Manifesto &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=25 February 2011 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/21/true-finns-nationalist-populists-european-parties |title=The True Finns followed a well-known recipe for success &#124; Jon Worth &#124; Comment is free |work=theguardian|date=21 April 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>|group=note}}  The Finns Party has been compared by international media to the other [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] populist parties and other similar nationalist and right-wing [[populism|populist]] movements in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.social-europe.eu/2011/04/in-finland-we-experienced-this-thing-called-jytky |title=In Finland we Experienced this Thing Called 'Jytky' – Social Europe Journal |publisher=Social-europe.eu |date=2 April 2011|access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204080437/http://www.social-europe.eu/2011/04/in-finland-we-experienced-this-thing-called-jytky/ |archive-date=4 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also calls for [[Austerity|austerity policies]] to curb deficit spending.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=2023-04-02 |title=Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin concedes election |language=en |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/02/europe/sanna-marin-finland-elections-concedes-intl/index.html |access-date=}}</ref>

==Policies and platform==
{{Update section|date=January 2023}}
In evaluating the Finns Party's 70-page programme for the 2011 election, Mikko Lahtinen, political scientist in the [[University of Tampere]], and Markku Hyrkkänen, historian of ideas in the [[University of Turku]], note that [[nationalism]] is a theme consistently repeated throughout the programme. According to them, the party presents [[populism]] as a noble ideology, which seeks to empower the people. Lahtinen describes the rhetoric used in the program as a refreshing change to the [[Political correctness|politically correct]] "jargon" of mainstream media, and believes that the Finns Party may have succeeded in gaining supporters from the traditional left-wing parties by presenting a more attractive form of [[criticism of neoliberalism]] than those parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aikalainen.uta.fi/2011/03/18/vaaliohjelmien-aatteet-hukassa/ |title=Vaaliohjelmien aatteet hukassa |publisher=Aikalainen |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

Ville Pernaa, political scientist, described the party's 2015 electoral program by stating that the Finns combine elements of both right-wing and left-wing politics along with populist rhetoric.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/tutkija_perussuomalaiset_kayvat_vaalitaistoon_jytkyn_raunioilta_kuin_ameebat/7921432 Tutkija: perussuomalaiset käyvät vaalitaistoon jytkyn raunioilta kuin ameebat], YLE 10 April 2015, accessed 10 April 2015.</ref>

===Economic policy ===
{{Update|section|reason=Fiscal policies have moved right since the party split|date=April 2019}}
In the party's 2011 programme, the Finns Party advocated a more progressive taxation system and support for the welfare state.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election">{{cite web |title=Program for the 2011 election |url=http://arkisto.perussuomalaiset.fi/ohjelmat/getfile.php?file=1536 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928083239/http://arkisto.perussuomalaiset.fi/ohjelmat/getfile.php?file=1536 |archive-date=28 September 2013 |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="yle.fi">{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/perussuomalaisten_vaaliohjelma_suurituloisille_lisaa_veroja/5087551 |title=Perussuomalaisten vaaliohjelma: Suurituloisille lisää veroja &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=25 February 2011 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=STT |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Perussuomalaiset+nostaisi+p%C3%A4%C3%A4omaveroa+ja+leikkaisi+yritystukia/1135264080948 |title=Perussuomalaiset nostaisi pääomaveroa ja leikkaisi yritystukia – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party opposed the establishment of a flat tax and called for the raising of the [[capital gains tax]] and the re-institution of the [[wealth tax]]. According to the party, the willingness to pay taxes is best guaranteed by a society unified by correct social policies – the electoral program warns against individualist policies, which weaken the solidarity among citizens. "The willingness to pay taxes is guaranteed by having a unified people", the program reads (p.&nbsp;46).<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/>

Some observers compared the Finns Party's fiscal policies to the old national Social Democratic taxation policy, which has given the left-wing brand to the Finns Party. During the electoral campaign in 2011 Soini stated that he preferred the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]] over the centre-right [[National Coalition Party]] as a possible coalition partner in a future cabinet. Soini has stated that the Finns are a "workers' party without socialism".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36009:timo-soini-tyoevaeenpuolue-ilman-sosialismia&Itemid=8|title=Verkkouutiset}}</ref> A researcher for the opinion polling company ''Taloustutkimus'' agreed, describing the Finns Party as a "non-socialist workers' party".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/110764-yleinen-harhaluulo-perussuomalaisista-paljastui |title=Yleinen harhaluulo perussuomalaisista paljastui &#124; Uusi Suomi |language=fi |publisher=Uusisuomi.fi |date=3 March 2011|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

The party's programme on rural policy also called for state support for rural regions, particularly agriculture, suggesting state subsidies to relieve the effect of structural changes on the rural areas.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/> This policy is shared by [[Centre Party (Finland)|the Centre Party in Finland]] and originates from the agrarian and rural policies of both parties.

The Finns Party favours increasing state investments in infrastructure and industry as well.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/> A tendency towards favouring old industrial policies have led some political analysts to label the Finns Party as a centre-left party.

=== Energy policy ===
The Finns Party aspires to energy self-reliance and supports [[Nuclear energy policy|nuclear energy]].<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/202913 |title=Perussuomalaiset alkaneet kääntyä ydinvoiman kannalle – Kotimaa – Turun Sanomat |date=9 March 2011 |publisher=Ts.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party calls for a pro-industry environmental policy, opposing green tax reform and taxpayers' involvement in emission trading funds.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/>

The party strongly supports the [[peat]] industry, which produces massive amounts of [[greenhouse gas]]es, having even proposed exempting this production from any tax. The party generally scores best in municipalities whose economies are tied to this industry. The party has strongly denounced the [[Paris Agreement]], signed in December 2015, saying it was "catastrophic" for the economy, and demanded that the private sector and taxpayers be spared its "disastrous economic consequences".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://basta.media/extreme-droite-Europe-rechauffement-climat-negationnisme-vote-energie-fossile-automobile-renouvelables-frontiere-racisme-ecologie|title = Déni du réchauffement, mépris pour les renouvelables, haine des réfugiés climatiques : Le " fascisme fossile "| date=22 October 2020 }}</ref>

=== Sociocultural policy ===
The Finns Party [[Anti-gender movement|rejects the existence of nonbinary genders]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogit.perussuomalaiset.fi/lauri-karppi/sateenkaaripahkina/ |title=Sateenkaaripähkinä |date=13 July 2021 |publisher=perussuomalaiset.fi |access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref> and opposes [[same-sex marriage]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/vaalit/a/2011022513256956 |title=Postmodernistit aisoihin – ja 24 muuta linjausta &#124; Vaalit |publisher=Iltalehti.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> [[same-sex adoption]] and [[in vitro fertilisation]] given to [[Same-sex relationship|same-sex couples]] and single women.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/>

The party supports teaching "healthy national pride" in schools, "because the unity of citizens is the basis of society",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/vaalit/a/2011022513258207 |title=Persut: Kouluissa opetettava "kansallisylpeyttä" &#124; Vaalit |publisher=Iltalehti.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|author=HS |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Tervett%C3%A4+kansallisylpeytt%C3%A4+kouluihin/1135264084520 |title="Tervettä kansallisylpeyttä" kouluihin – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> and wants to promote support for cultural activities that "promote Finnish identity".<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>

The party also calls for the removal of the [[mandatory Swedish|obligatory character]] of the [[Finland Swedish|second official language]] (Swedish in Finnish-language schools and vice versa) in curriculums on all levels of education, freeing up time for the learning of other foreign languages such as English, German, French, Spanish and Russian (especially in the eastern part of the country).<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref>{{cite web|author=STT |url=http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/perussuomalaiset-luopuisivat-pakkoruotsista/597951/ |title=Perussuomalaiset luopuisivat pakkoruotsista &#124; Kotimaa |publisher=Kaleva.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> Allowance regarding the use of the Swedish language and its teaching will have to be made for those [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] where Swedish-speakers are in the majority or a large percentage of the population – Swedish is one of Finland's national languages.

The cultural program of the Finns Party, which proposed subsidizing traditional art over [[postmodern art]], prompted criticism from outside the party and generated debate within the party as well.<ref>{{cite web|author=Teemu Luukka Kirjoittaja on kulttuuritoimittaja. |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Perussuomalaisissa+leimahti+taidekiista+ehdokkaalle+erovaatimus/1135264386852 |title=Perussuomalaisissa leimahti taidekiista, ehdokkaalle erovaatimus – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> Some critics of the policy called it overtly populist<ref>[http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/blogit/kohtaamisia/persujen-kulttuuripolitiikka-kyytia-tekotaiteellisille-kokeiluille] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302200745/http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/blogit/kohtaamisia/persujen-kulttuuripolitiikka-kyytia-tekotaiteellisille-kokeiluille|date=2 March 2011}}</ref> or said that the state should not interfere with the content of art.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |author=Helsingin Sanomat |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/HS-gallup+Enemmist%C3%B6+lopettaisi+postmodernin+nykytaiteen+tuen/1135264890272 |title=HS-gallup: Enemmistö lopettaisi postmodernin nykytaiteen tuen – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104210607/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/HS-gallup+Enemmist%C3%B6+lopettaisi+postmodernin+nykytaiteen+tuen/1135264890272 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A poll commissioned by ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' at the time of the controversy found that a majority of Finns, 51%, agreed with the party's stance on ending [[Subsidy|subsidies]] for postmodern art.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

=== Immigration policy ===
Regarding [[Immigration law|immigration policy]], the party's 2011 manifesto emphasises welcoming work-based immigration, provided the immigrants pay taxes and abide by Finnish [[Labour law|labour laws]]; deporting immigrants guilty of serious or recurrent crimes or those that do not meet the Immigration laws; limiting [[family reunification]] to proven direct relatives only, and requiring means of subsistence from the immigrant; limiting humanitarian immigration strictly to refugee quotas (which should be adapted to correspond with the economic situation); and granting the [[Finnish nationality law|Finnish nationality]] after five years of residence in Finland, provided the immigrant masters Finnish, has no criminal record, and has means of subsistence.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="yle.fi"/>

The party also requires that immigrants accept Finnish [[Social norm|sociocultural norms]].<ref name="yle.fi"/> The only written declaration to the European Parliament made by a True Finns' MEP also concerns immigration matters.<ref>{{cite web|author=cs – čeština |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sidesSearch/search.do?type=WDECL&language=EN&term=7&author=96666 |title=Written declarations |publisher=Europarl.europa.eu |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party underlines the role of national sovereignty in immigration issues:
{{blockquote|[True] Finnish immigration policy should be based on the fact that the Finns should always be able to decide for themselves the conditions under which a foreigner can come to our country and reside in our country.|Program for the 2011 election (p. 40)<ref name="Program for the 2011 election" /><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/21/true-finns-nationalist-populists-european-parties | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Jon | last=Worth | title=The True Finns followed a well-known recipe for success – Jon Worth | date=21 April 2011}}</ref>}}

In 2015, the party's immigration programme included demands like lowering the refugee quota, tightening the conditions of family unification, ending [[affirmative action]], outlawing [[begging]] in public places, opposing the use of public funds to advance [[multiculturalism]], opposition to the planned burden-sharing mechanisms of the Common European Asylum Policy, making sure that immigrants living on welfare benefits are not concentrated in the same areas and only allowing the immigration of workers from outside the EU and [[European Economic Area|EEA]] if they are found to be necessary in a given field in a means test by the Finnish Labour Office.<ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2015042419576044 Näin perussuomalaiset linjaa maahanmuuttoa], [[Iltalehti]] 24 April 2015, accessed 30 April 2015.</ref><ref>[https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ps-maahanmuuttopoliittinen_ohjelma_2015_v3.pdf The Finns Party's immigration programme, 2015], accessed 30 April 2015</ref>

In their 2019 election manifesto, the party called for a prohibition on wearing the [[burqa]] and the [[niqāb]] in public.<ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/792dc8a5-eed6-4e58-ae9c-09ed2528a714 Perussuomalaisilta kova maahanmuutto-ohjelma: burkat, niqabit ja pienten tyttöjen huivit kiellettävä], Iltalehti, 22 February 2019, accessed 4 March 2019</ref>

Timo Soini signed a pan-European charter against racism in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|author=Helsingin Sanomat |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Keskustanuoret+ep%C3%A4ilev%C3%A4t+perussuomalaisten+hyv%C3%A4ksyv%C3%A4n+rasismin/1135245241545 |title=Keskustanuoret epäilevät perussuomalaisten hyväksyvän rasismin – HS.fi – Politiikka |publisher=HS.fi |date=1 April 2009|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> However, in 2009, before the European Parliament election, Soini refused to sign an anti-racism appeal, saying that the appeal was an attempt to influence the party's choice of candidates (the appeal was drawn up by another political party). All other Finnish parties signed this appeal against racism.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/True+Finns+renounce+racism+discrimination+and+favouritism/1135266444787 True Finns renounce racism, discrimination, and favouritism: MP Hakkarainen reprimanded for intemperate remarks] Helsingin Sanomat</ref> In May 2011, following controversies surrounding the remarks of the Finns Party's MP [[Teuvo Hakkarainen]], the Finns Party's parliamentary group issued a statement condemning all racism and discrimination, including [[affirmative action]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/ajankohtaista/?issue=912 |title=Ajankohtaista – Perussuomalaiset |publisher=Perussuomalaiset.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> The party invited other parties to sign the statement as well, but no other party did so. In December 2011, an opinion poll revealed 51% of Finns Party voters agreed with the statement, ''"Joihinkin rotuihin kuuluvat ihmiset eivät kerta kaikkiaan sovi asumaan moderniin yhteiskuntaan;"'' ''"People of certain races are unable to live within (fit into) a modern society."'' <ref>HS-gallup: Enemmistö pitää Suomea rasistisena. Helsingin Sanomat  https://web.archive.org/web/20111115220628/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/HS-gallup+Enemmistö+pitää+Suomea+rasistisena/a1305549205315</ref>

===Foreign policy ===
The Finns Party is opposed to the integration of the [[European Union]]<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="yle.fi"/> and to Finnish [[Eurozone]] membership.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |url=https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/EUpolitiikkaENG_2019.pdf |title=THE FINNS PARTY'S EUROPEAN UNION POLICY |publisher=Finns Party|access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> The party also calls for reductions in foreign aid.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="yle.fi"/>

The party believes in [[Nation state|national sovereignty]]: 
{{blockquote|[T]he eternal and unlimited right to always decide freely and independently of all of one's affairs lies only and solely with the people, which forms a nation separate of others.|Program for the 2011 election (p. 7)<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>}}

==== European Union ====
Shortly after the leadership election of [[Jussi Halla-aho]], the party hardened its position towards the European Union. In 2017, [[Laura Huhtasaari]] stated that she would support leaving the EU should she win the [[2018 Finnish presidential election]] citing the growth of the Union's power at the expense of the member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-finland-eurosceptics/presidential-hopeful-wants-finland-out-of-eu-says-nationalists-will-bounce-back-idUSKBN1E722V|title=Presidential hopeful wants Finland out of EU, says nationalists will bounce back |publisher=reuters |date= 13 December 2017 |access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> Other party members have supported the idea of Finland withdrawing from both the [[Schengen Agreement]] and the [[Eurozone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/finns-party-euro-candidate-wants-finland-to-leave-schengen-for-visa-free-travel-with-russia/|title=Finns Party Euro Candidate Wants Finland to Leave Schengen for Visa-Free Travel With Russia |publisher=schengenvisainfo |date= 21 May 2019 |access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-18/finland-s-second-biggest-party-wants-orderly-euro-exit-mechanism|title=Finland's Second-Biggest Party Wants Orderly Euro-Exit Mechanism |publisher=bloombery |date= 18 April 2019 |access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> In its latest platform, the Finns Party states that it supports a "European policy" based on appreciation for Western and Christian shaped values. The party argues that Finland is needed in the European Parliament to defend Finnish interests in the short-term, but states the "long-term strategic goal" is to take gradual steps to withdraw Finland from the European Union and proposes introducing a parallel currency within Finland to initiate phasing out Finnish membership of the [[Eurozone]].<ref name="auto4"/>

In 2023, Halla-aho reiterated that the party's long-term goal is strategic preparation for a "Fixit" (Finnish exit) from the European Union and Eurozone, highlighting what he described as a "democratic deficit" within the EU while Foreign Trade Minister [[Ville Tavio]] stated the party will vote against joint-EU debt policies in government. However, the party leadership stated that it also wished to strengthen European unity and cooperation in the meantime in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finns-party-mastermind-defends-long-term-goal-exit-eu-2023-08-12/|title = Finns Party mastermind defends long-term goal to leave the EU |newspaper = Reuters|date = 12 August 2023 |last1 = Kauranen|first1 = Anne}}</ref>

==== Defence ====
[[Timo Soini]] has been an outspoken critic of both the EU and NATO, but has stated that if a choice had to be made, NATO is a lesser evil than the EU. The Finns Party favors non-alliance or neutrality, as international activities abroad for the [[Finnish Defence Forces|Defence Forces]] would undermine the defence budget's funds for sustaining a large conscript army of war-time personnel (which is 350,000) to guarantee the defence of all of Finland.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="yle.fi"/> When the Finnish Parliament voted to ratify the [[Ottawa Treaty]], banning anti-personnel mines, in November 2011, the Finns Party was the only party unified in opposing the treaty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Suomi+kielt%C3%A4%C3%A4+jalkav%C3%A4kimiinat/a1305550098356 |title=Suomi kieltää jalkaväkimiinat – Politiikka – Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

Initially, the party was opposed to Finnish admission into [[NATO]] in its 2011 program.<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/><ref name="yle.fi"/> However, following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the party signaled a change to this policy and stated it was willing to back NATO membership.{{Better source|reason=Mentioned Reuters' article (March 2022) does not speak of the Finns Party at all!|date=January 2025}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finns-warm-nato-alarmed-reaction-russian-invasion-ukraine-2022-03-03/|title = Finns warm to NATO in alarmed reaction to Russian invasion of Ukraine|newspaper = Reuters|date = 3 March 2022|last1 = Kauranen|first1 = Anne}}</ref>

=== Judicial policy ===
During the [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011 election]], the party's judicial programme included the opposition to any incorporation of [[Sharia|Sharia law]] into Finnish judicial practices,<ref name="Program for the 2011 election" /> giving more resources for police and prosecutors<ref name="Program for the 2011 election"/> and imposing tougher punishments for [[Violent crime|violent crimes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa.shtml/perussuomalaiset-koventaisi-rangaistuksia-raiskauksista/2011/02/1280153 |title=Perussuomalaiset koventaisi rangaistuksia raiskauksista – Kotimaa – Uutiset – MTV.fi |language=fi |publisher=Mtv3.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

==Election results==
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:300 height:240
PlotArea   = width:200 height:160 left:50 bottom:60
AlignBars  = justify

DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:0 till:25
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
AlignBars  = justify
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:0
Colors=
  id:SB value:rgb(1,0.835,0) legend:Sea_Battles
PlotData=
  bar:% color:SB width:22   mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:S
  bar:1999 from:start till:0.09 text:1.0
  bar:2003 from:start till:1.57 text:1.6
  bar:2007 from:start till:4.88 text:4.05
  bar:2011 from:start till:19.05 text:19.05
  bar:2015 from:start till:17.65 text:17.65
  bar:2019 from:start till:17.5 text:17.48
  bar:2023 from:start till:20.1 text:20.06
  </timeline>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; font-size: 85%"
|+ Finns Party results by constituency,<br />[[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023 parliamentary election]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vaalit.yle.fi/ev2023/tulospalvelu/fi/parties/2/|title=Perussuomalaiset &#124; Tulospalvelu &#124; Eduskuntavaalit 2023 &#124; yle.fi|website=vaalit.yle.fi}}</ref>
|-
! [[Electoral districts of Finland|Constituency]]
! Votes<br />(%)
! Avg. result<br />+/− ([[Percentage point|pp]])
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Lapland (parliamentary electoral district)|Lapland]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 26.8
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+9.6}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Satakunta (parliamentary electoral district)|Satakunta]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 26.6
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+2.6}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Oulu (parliamentary electoral district)|Oulu]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 25.4
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+5.1}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Häme (parliamentary electoral district)|Häme]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 24.4
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+3.4}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Southeast Finland (parliamentary electoral district)|South-Eastern Finland]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 22.8
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+3.9}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Vaasa (parliamentary electoral district)|Vaasa]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 21.3
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+4.2}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Central Finland (parliamentary electoral district)|Central Finland]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.5
| style="text-align:right" | {{#expr:0+2.4}}
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Pirkanmaa (parliamentary electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.2
| style="text-align:right" | 2.8
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Varsinais-Suomi (parliamentary electoral district)|Varsinais-Suomi]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.0
| style="text-align:right" | 0.8
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Savo-Karelia (parliamentary electoral district)|Savo-Karelia]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 20.0
| style="text-align:right" | 2.0
|- style="background:#9F9"
| [[Uusimaa (parliamentary electoral district)|Uusimaa]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 18.2
| style="text-align:right" | 2.3
|- style="background:#ffc1c1"
| [[Helsinki (parliamentary electoral district)|Helsinki]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.3
| style="text-align:right" | -1.0
|- class="sortbottom"
! style="text-align:left" | Finland (total)
! style="text-align:right" | 20.1
! style="text-align:right" | +2.6
|}

===Parliamentary elections===

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Government
|-
! [[1999 Finnish parliamentary election|1999]]
| 26,440
| 0.99
| {{Composition bar|1|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| 
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2003 Finnish parliamentary election|2003]]
| 43,816
| 1.57
| {{Composition bar|3|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2007 Finnish parliamentary election|2007]]
| 112,256
| 4.05
| {{Composition bar|5|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]]
| 560,075
| 19.05
| {{Composition bar|39|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 34
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! rowspan=2| [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]
| rowspan=2| 524,054
| rowspan=2| 17.65
| rowspan=2| {{Composition bar|38|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| rowspan=2| {{decrease}} 1
| {{yes2|[[Sipilä cabinet|Coalition]] {{small|(2015–2017)}}}}
|-
| {{no2|Opposition {{small|(2017–2019)}}}}
|-
! [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]
| 538,805
| 17.48
| {{Composition bar|39|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]
| 620,981
| 20.06
| {{Composition bar|46|200|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 7
| {{yes2|[[Orpo Cabinet|Coalition]]}}
|-
|}

===Presidential elections===

{| class="wikitable"

|+
! rowspan="2"| Election year
! rowspan="2"| Candidate
! colspan="3"| 1st round
! colspan="3"| 2nd round
! rowspan="2"| Result
|-
!Votes
!%
!Rank
!Votes
!%
!Rank
|-
! [[2000 Finnish presidential election|2000]]
| [[Ilkka Hakalehto]]
| 31,405
| 1.03
| 6th
| colspan="3" {{N/A}}
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
! [[2006 Finnish presidential election|2006]]
| [[Timo Soini]]
| 103,368
| 3.43
| 5th
| colspan="3" {{N/A}}
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
! [[2012 Finnish presidential election|2012]]
| [[Timo Soini]]
| 287,571
| 9.40
| 4th
| colspan="3" {{N/A}}
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
! [[2018 Finnish presidential election|2018]]
| [[Laura Huhtasaari]]
| 207,337
| 6.93
| 3rd
| colspan="3" {{N/A}}
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
! [[2024 Finnish presidential election|2024]]
| [[Jussi Halla-aho]]
| 615,487
| 19.0
| 3rd
| colspan="3" {{N/A}}
| {{no|Lost}}
|}

===European Parliament elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election 
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! EP Group
|-
! [[1996 European Parliament election in Finland|1996]]
| 15,004
| 0.67 (#10)
| {{Composition bar|0|16|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| New
| rowspan=3 | –
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in Finland|1999]]
| 9,854
| 0.79 (#9)
| {{Composition bar|0|16|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Finland|2004]]
| 8,900
| 0.54 (#9)
| {{Composition bar|0|14|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Finland|2009]]
| 162,930
| 9.79 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|1|13|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy|EFD]]
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Finland|2014]]
| 222,457
| 12.87 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|2|13|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|ECR]]
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Finland|2019]]
| 252,990
| 13.83 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|2|13|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| [[Identity and Democracy|ID]]
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Finland|2024]]
| 139,160
| 7.61 (#6)
| {{Composition bar|1|15|hex={{party color|Finns Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|ECR]]
|}

===Municipal elections===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Councillors
|-
! [[1996 Finnish municipal elections|1996]]
| 21,999
| 0.93
| 138
|-
! [[2000 Finnish municipal elections|2000]]
| 14,712
| 0.66
| 109
|-
! [[2004 Finnish municipal elections|2004]]
| 21,417
| 0.90
| 106
|-
! [[2008 Finnish municipal elections|2008]]
| 137,497
| 5.39
| 443
|-
! [[2012 Finnish municipal elections|2012]]
| 307,797
| 12.34
| 1,195
|-
! [[2017 Finnish municipal elections|2017]]
| 227,297
| 8.8
| 770
|-
! [[2021 Finnish municipal elections|2021]]
| 354,236
| 14.5
| 1,351
|-
![[2025 Finnish municipal elections|2025]]
|184,616
|7.6
|651
|}

== Organization ==

=== Leadership ===
==== Party board ====
[[File:Raimo Vistbacka.JPG|thumb|An ex-[[police commissioner]] and MP Raimo Vistbacka was elected the first chairperson of the Finns Party in the Kokkola Party Congress in November 1995. Photograph from 2011.]]

The board of the Finns Party has 13 members: the party chairperson, the three deputy chairs, the party secretary, the chair of the parliamentary group and seven other members.<ref name="party_board">{{cite web|url=http://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/puoluehallitus |title=Puoluehallitus – Perussuomalaiset |publisher=Perussuomalaiset.fi |date=2 March 2014|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

The party chairpersonship is divided between four persons, elected at party congress biannually. [[Riikka Purra]] is the party's current chair. The first deputy chair is [[Leena Meri]], the second deputy chair is [[Mauri Peltokangas]] and the third deputy chair is [[Sebastian Tynkkynen]].<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/sebastian_tynkkynen_kampesi_juho_eerolan_3_varapuheenjohtajan_paikalta/8212851 Sebastian Tynkkynen kampesi Juho Eerolan 3. varapuheenjohtajan paikalta], YLE 8 August, accessed 9 August.</ref>

==== Party chairpeople ====
*[[Raimo Vistbacka]] (1995–1997) 
*[[Timo Soini]] (1997–2017) 
*[[Jussi Halla-aho]] (2017–2021) 
*[[Riikka Purra]] (2021–) 

==== Party secretaries ====
*[[Timo Soini]] (1995–1997) 
*[[Rolf Sormo]] (1997–1999) 
*[[Hannu Purho]] (1999–2007) 
*[[Ossi Sandvik]] (2007–2013) 
*[[Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo]] (2013–2019)<ref>{{cite web |last=Uusivaara |first=Terhi |date=2 June 2013 |title=Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo perussuomalaisten puoluesihteeriksi &#124; Yle Uutiset |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/riikka_slunga-poutsalo_perussuomalaisten_puoluesihteeriksi/6711241 |access-date=12 June 2014 |publisher=yle.fi}}</ref>
*[[Simo Grönroos]] (2019–2021) 
*[[Arto Luukkanen]] (2021–) 

===Foundations===
The foundation ''Perussuomalaisten tukisäätiö'' ("The Finns Party support fund") was founded in 1990. It used the name ''SMP:n tukisäätiö'' until 2006. The fund borrowed 1.7 million euros from the party in 2012 to buy a 450 m<sup>2</sup> commercial property in downtown Helsinki on Yrjönkatu for use as the Party's new headquarters. The party rented these premises from the fund.<ref>Säätiöselkärankaiset perussuomalaiset HS 26 April 2012 a5</ref> Following the split of 2017, this foundation was left in the control the defector group, Blue Reform.

Another foundation, ''Suomen Perusta'' ("The Foundation of Finland"), was set up in 2012. Its role is to function as a think tank for the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/kotimaa/Suomen+Perusta+aloittaa+vuodenvaihteessa/a1352960445435 |title=Suomen Perusta aloittaa vuodenvaihteessa – Kotimaa – Päivän lehti – Helsingin Sanomat |work=HS Digilehti |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

=== Elected representatives ===

==== Current members of the Finnish Parliament ====
[[Jani Mäkelä]] is the current chair of the parliamentary group.
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Sanna Antikainen]] ([[Savonia-Karelia (electoral district)|Savonia-Karelia]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Miko Bergbom]] ([[Pirkanmaa (electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Juho Eerola]] ([[South-Eastern Finland (electoral district)|South-East]], [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]]–)
* [[Kike Elomaa]] ([[Finland Proper (electoral district)|Finland Proper]], [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]]–)
* [[Kaisa Garedew]] ([[Central Finland (electoral district)|Central Finland]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Jussi Halla-aho]] ([[Helsinki (electoral district)|Helsinki]], 2011–14, [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Laura Huhtasaari]] ([[Satakunta (electoral district)|Satakunta]], 2015–2019, 2023–)
* [[Petri Huru]] ([[Satakunta (electoral district)|Satakunta]], 2019–)
* [[Tomi Immonen]] ([[Central Finland (electoral district)|Central Finland]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Vilhelm Junnila]] ([[Finland Proper (electoral district)|Finland Proper]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Kaisa Juuso]] ([[Lapland (electoral district)|Lapland]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Arja Juvonen]] ([[Uusimaa (electoral district)|Uusimaa]], [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]]–)
* [[Antti Kangas]] ([[Oulu (electoral district)|Oulu]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Teemu Keskisarja]] ([[Uusimaa (electoral district)|Uusimaa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Ari Koponen]] ([[Uusimaa (electoral district)|Uusimaa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Jari Koskela]] ([[Satakunta (electoral district)|Satakunta]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Sheikki Laakso]] ([[South-Eastern Finland (electoral district)|South-East]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Rami Lehtinen]] ([[Häme (parliamentary electoral district)|Häme]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Mikko Lundén]] ([[Finland Proper (electoral district)|Finland Proper]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Leena Meri]] ([[Uusimaa (electoral district)|Uusimaa]], [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–)
* [[Juha Mäenpää]] ([[Vaasa (constituency)|Vaasa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Jani Mäkelä]] ([[South-Eastern Finland (electoral district)|South-East]], [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–)
* [[Veijo Niemi]] ([[Pirkanmaa (electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Mira Nieminen]] ([[Häme (parliamentary electoral district)|Häme]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Mauri Peltokangas]] ([[Vaasa (constituency)|Vaasa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Jorma Piisinen]] ([[Uusimaa (constituency)|Uusimaa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Mikko Polvinen]] ([[Oulu (constituency)|Oulu]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Sakari Puisto]] ([[Pirkanmaa (electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Riikka Purra]] ([[Uusimaa (electoral district)|Uusimaa]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Lulu Ranne]] ([[Häme (parliamentary electoral district)|Häme]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Mari Rantanen]] ([[Helsinki (electoral district)|Helsinki]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Minna Reijonen]] ([[Savonia-Karelia (electoral district)|Savonia-Karelia]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Anne Rintamäki]] ([[Vaasa (constituency)|Vaasa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Jari Ronkainen]] ([[Häme (parliamentary electoral district)|Häme]], [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–)
* [[Onni Rostila]] ([[Uusimaa (constituency)|Uusimaa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Wille Rydman]] ([[Helsinki (constituency)|Helsinki]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–; NCP MP [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–2023)
* [[Sami Savio]] ([[Pirkanmaa (electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]], [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–)
* [[Sara Seppänen]] ([[Lapland (constituency)|Lapland]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Pia Sillanpää]] ([[Vaasa (constituency)|Vaasa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Jenna Simula]] ([[Oulu (electoral district)|Oulu]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Jaana Strandtman]] ([[Southeast Finland (constituency)|Southeast Finland]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Ville Tavio]] ([[Finland Proper (electoral district)|Finland Proper]], [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|2015]]–)
* [[Sebastian Tynkkynen]] ([[Oulu (electoral district)|Oulu]], [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election|2019]]–)
* [[Joakim Vigelius]] ([[Pirkanmaa (electoral district)|Pirkanmaa]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–)
* [[Ville Vähämäki]] ([[Oulu (electoral district)|Oulu]], [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]]–)
{{div col end}}

==== Former members of the Finnish Parliament ====
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Simon Elo]] (2015–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Tiina Elovaara]] (2015–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Teuvo Hakkarainen]] (2011–2019)
* [[Tony Halme]] (2003–07)
* [[James Hirvisaari]] (2011–13; expelled from the party in 2013)
* [[Reijo Hongisto]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Laila Koskela]] (2011–14; defected to the Centre Party in 2014)
* [[Lauri Heikkilä]] (2011–15)
* [[Olli Immonen]] (2011–2023)
* [[Ari Jalonen]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Anssi Joutsenlahti]] (2011–15; Rural MP 1979–87)
* [[Johanna Jurva]] (2011–15)
* [[Pietari Jääskeläinen]] (2009–15)
* [[Toimi Kankaanniemi]] (2015–)
* [[Pentti Kettunen]] (2011–15; Rural MP 1983–87, 1989–91)
* [[Kimmo Kivelä]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Osmo Kokko]] (2011–15)
* [[Jouni Kotiaho]] (2019–2023)
* [[Kari Kulmala]] (2015–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Rami Lehto]] (2015–2023)
* [[Jari Lindström]] (2011–17, Minister for Justice and Employment 2015–19; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Maria Lohela]] (2011–17, [[Speaker of the Parliament of Finland|Speaker of the Parliament]] 2015–2018; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Anne Louhelainen]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Pirkko Mattila]] (2011–17; Minister for Social Affairs and Health 2016–19, defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Jukka Mäkynen]] (2019–2023)
* [[Lea Mäkipää]] (2011–17; [[Finnish Rural Party|Rural]] MP 1983–95; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Hanna Mäntylä]] (2011–17, Minister for Social Affairs and Health 2015–2016; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Martti Mölsä]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Mika Niikko]] (2011–2023)
* [[Jussi Niinistö]] (2011–17, [[Minister of Defence (Finland)|Minister for Defence]] 2015–19; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Pentti Oinonen]] (2007–11; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Tom Packalén]] (2011–2023)
* [[Mika Raatikainen]] (2014–19)
* [[Veera Ruoho]] (2015–17; defected to the National Coalition Party in 2017)
* [[Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner]] (2007–15)
* [[Vesa-Matti Saarakkala]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo]] (2019–2023)
* [[Timo Soini]] (2011–17, 2003–09, [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] 2015–19; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Ismo Soukola]] (2011–15)
* [[Sampo Terho]] (2015–17, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sports 2017–19; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Maria Tolppanen]] (2011–16; defected to the SDP in 2016)
* [[Reijo Tossavainen]] (2011–15)
* [[Ano Turtiainen]] (2019–20, expelled from the parliamentary group in 2020 and from the party in 2021)
* [[Kaj Turunen]] (2011–17; defected to Blue Reform in 2017)
* [[Kauko Tuupainen]] (2011–15)
* [[Markku Uusipaavalniemi]] (2010–11; Centre MP 2007–10)
* [[Veikko Vallin]] (2019–2023)
* [[Veltto Virtanen]] (2007–15; Ecological Party MP 1995–99)
* [[Raimo Vistbacka]] (1995–11; Rural MP 1987–95)
* [[Juha Väätäinen]] (2011–15)
* [[Jussi Wihonen]] (2019–2023)
* [[Timo Vornanen]] ([[Savonia-Karelia (electoral district)|Savonia-Karelia]], [[2023 Finnish parliamentary election|2023]]–2024; expelled){{div col end}}

==== Members of the European Parliament ====
* [[Timo Soini]] (2009–2011) 
* [[Sampo Terho]] (2011–2015) 
* [[Jussi Halla-aho]] (2014–2019) 
* [[Laura Huhtasaari]] (2019–2023) 
* [[Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner]] (2015–2019, 2023–2024) 
* [[Teuvo Hakkarainen]] (2019–2024) 
* [[Sebastian Tynkkynen]] (2024–)

==Controversies==

===2010s===

In 2011, Finns party MP [[James Hirvisaari]] was fined 1,425 euros by the [[Kouvola]] Court of Appeals for comments he made on his blog about Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kansanedustaja_james_hirvisaarelle_tuomio_vihapuheista/5467575 |title=Kansanedustaja James Hirvisaarelle tuomio vihapuheista &#124; Yle Uutiset |date=12 December 2011 |publisher=yle.fi |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> In 2011, President [[Tarja Halonen]] was quoted characterizing some Finns party voters as racist.<ref>{{cite web|author=${when} |url=http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/Presidentti+Halonen+vaatii+HS-haastattelussa+arkirohkeutta+rasismia+vastaan/a1305549256501 |title=Presidentti Halonen vaatii HS-haastattelussa arkirohkeutta rasismia vastaan – Kotimaa – Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Hs.fi |date=1 November 2011|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Perussuomalaiset+n%C3%A4rk%C3%A4styiv%C3%A4t+Halosen+rasismikommentista/a1305549276598 |title=Perussuomalaiset närkästyivät Halosen rasismikommentista – Rasismi – Politiikka – Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Hs.fi |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=14 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114140324/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Perussuomalaiset+n%C3%A4rk%C3%A4styiv%C3%A4t+Halosen+rasismikommentista/a1305549276598 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her comments were broadly condemned by the Finns party.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> A 2011 book by Swedish journalist [[Lisa Bjurwald]] made a similar characterization, that the party's leaders support racist positions, while publicly denying that they do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/117876-ruotsalainen-perussuomalaisista-%E2%80%9Dedes-meidan-rasistimme-eivat-ole-nain-tyhmia%E2%80%9D |title=Ruotsalainen perussuomalaisista: "Edes meidän rasistimme eivät ole näin tyhmiä" &#124; Uusi Suomi |language=fi |publisher=Uusisuomi.fi |date=1 November 2011|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

In 2011, MP [[Pentti Oinonen]] declined an invitation to the presidential [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]] ball, citing his aversion to seeing same-sex couples dance.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/117874-terveiset-sodasta-oinoselle-%E2%80%9Dmies-polvillaan-toisen-vehkeen-kanssa%E2%80%9D |title=Terveiset sodasta Oinoselle: "Mies polvillaan toisen vehkeen kanssa" &#124; Uusi Suomi |language=fi |doi=10.1037/0021-843X.105.3.440 |publisher=Uusisuomi.fi |date=1 November 2011|pmid=8772014 |access-date=12 June 2014|last1=Adams |first1=H. E. |last2=Wright Jr |first2=L. W. |last3=Lohr |first3=B. A. |journal=Journal of Abnormal Psychology |volume=105 |issue=3 |pages=440–445 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

[[Jussi Halla-aho]], the previous leader of the party, a former MEP and now the Speaker of the House wrote that Somalis were genetically predisposed to rob passersby, wrote that he would be happy if a gang of immigrants raped a Green League MP, and commented "Violence is an underrated problem-solving tool these days," while pondering if he should shoot a gay man. A number of senior Finns Party politicians, including Halla-aho and Immonen, are also [[Suomen Sisu]] members, an organization that [[Länsiväylä (newspaper)|Länsiväylä]] describes as a [[Nazism|Nazi]] group.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Koivulaakso |first1=Dan |last2=Brunila |first2=Mikael |last3=Andersson |first3=Li | title = Äärioikeisto Suomessa| publisher = Into Kustannus| year = 2012| pages=76–79| isbn = 978-952-264-180-9}}</ref> The website of Suomen Sisu has promoted books by Nazis and neo-Nazis such as [[Alfred Rosenberg]], [[George Lincoln Rockwell]] and [[David Duke]].<ref>Koivulaakso & Brunila & Andersson 2012, s. 81.</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Euronews]]|title=Racism and rape fantasies: The PR headache facing Finland's new right-wing government|date=20 November 2023|url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government}}</ref> 

There have also been Finns Party candidates who are members of [[Blood & Honour]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Akkerman |first1=Tjitske |last2=Lange |first2=Sarah L. de |last3=Rooduijn |first3=Matthijs |title=Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe: Into the Mainstream? |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-41978-5 |page=128 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ft8eDAAAQBAJ&dq=Finland+neo+fascism&pg=PA128 |access-date=6 April 2025  |language=en}}</ref> Finns Party councillor Risto Helin was photographed wearing a Blood & Honour shirt and he donated Adolf Hitler paraphernalia to an affiliated skinhead club in [[Vaasa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2013032716837134|title=Image: Perussuomalainen valtuutettu antoi uusnatseille Hitler-kellon|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=22 April 2025}}</ref><ref name=ts.fi>{{cite web|url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/390317|work=[[Turun Sanomat]]|title=Perussuomalaisten kuntavaaliehdokas esittäytyy natsipaidassa|date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

In a judgement given on 8 June 2012, MP [[Jussi Halla-aho]], then Chairperson of the Administration Committee was found guilty by the Supreme Court of both disturbing religious worship and ethnic agitation for statements he made about [[Muhammad]] in his blog.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/KKO+tuomitsi+Halla-ahon+my%C3%B6s+kiihottamisesta+kansanryhm%C3%A4%C3%A4+vastaan/a1305573468404 KKO tuomitsi Halla-ahon myös kiihottamisesta kansanryhmää vastaan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610162315/http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/KKO+tuomitsi+Halla-ahon+my%C3%B6s+kiihottamisesta+kansanryhm%C3%A4%C3%A4+vastaan/a1305573468404 |date=10 June 2012 }}, Helsingin Sanomat, 8 June 2012</ref>

In October 2013, it was reported that MP [[James Hirvisaari]], had invited far-right activist [[Seppo Lehto]] as his guest to the parliament. During his visit, Lehto made several [[Nazi salute]]s, including at least one instance where Hirvisaari took a photo of Lehto performing the Nazi salute from the spectator gallery overlooking the [[Parliament House, Helsinki|Parliament House]]'s Session Hall. Photos and videos of Lehto performing the Nazi salute in the Parliament House were then distributed on Lehto's public Facebook page and on YouTube.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Kansanedustaja+Hirvisaaren+vieras+teki+natsitervehdyksi%C3%A4+eduskunnassa/a1380682718567|title=Kansanedustaja Hirvisaaren vieras teki natsitervehdyksiä eduskunnassa|last=Rantanen|first=Miska|date=2 October 2013|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi|access-date=3 October 2013}}</ref> After newspapers broke news of the incident, Speaker of the Parliament [[Eero Heinäluoma]] issued a notice of censure to Hirvisaari for the incident and the Finns Party leadership unanimously decided to expel Hirvisaari from the party, citing multiple cases of acting against the party's interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/finns_party_expelling_mp/6862746|title=Finns Party expelling MP|date=3 October 2013|work=[[YLE]] News|access-date=3 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/Puhemies+antoi+Hirvisaarelle+huomautuksen/a1380763881635|title=Puhemies antoi Hirvisaarelle huomautuksen|author1=Tyynysniemi, Matti|author2=Saarinen, Juhani|author3=Pohjanpalo Olli|date=3 October 2013|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi|access-date=3 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/finns_party_confirms_expulsion_of_controversial_mp/6866589|title=Finns Party confirms expulsion of controversial MP|date=4 October 2013|work=[[YLE]] News|access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref>

Hirvisaari then became affiliated with the [[Change 2011]] party as the party's MP, until he was unseated in the [[2015 Finnish parliamentary election|parliamentary election of 2015]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.is.fi/vaalit2015/art-2000000912032.html|title=Todella kovia nimiä putosi eduskunnasta – peräti 40 edustajaa ulos|date=19 April 2015|work=Ilta-Sanomat}}</ref>

The party's [[Ruovesi]] municipal chapter's official postal address had Nazi flags hanging in the windows in 2019. The chapter chairperson denied that the flags were his.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006177939.html|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=4 April 2023|title=Ruoveden perussuomalaisten osoitteeksi merkityn talon ikkunassa roikkui natsilippuja}}</ref>

===2020s===
In between 2019–2022, Finns party MP and later Minister of Economic Affairs [[Vilhelm Junnila]] made four budgetary motions in order to support Veljesapu-Perinneyhdistys, a Finnish organization that cherishes the heritage of the Finnish volunteers in the Waffen-SS. Junnila wrote in his motion, that the support would be "for the promotion of balanced historical research".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vilhelm Junnila on useita kertoja esittänyt määrärahaa SS-perinnettä vaalivalle yhdistykselle|url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009689539.html|date=2023-06-30|access-date=2023-06-30|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi}}</ref> In 2020, a number of members of the Finns party in parliament criticised the [[Research Council of Finland]] for funding the research on [[the Holocaust]] of historian and [[Green League]] candidate [[Oula Silvennoinen]] at the [[University of Helsinki]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hartikainen |first1=Jarno |title=Perussuomalaiset moittivat Suomen Akatemian päätöstä rahoittaa holokausti–tutkimusta – näin Akatemia kommentoi|url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000006368202.html |access-date=10 January 2020 |work=Helsinki Sanomat |date=10 January 2020}}</ref> According to [[Der Spiegel]], three Finns party ministers supported a motion to provide funding for SS veterans association for a "counter-study" in response to accusations of Finnish SS men having participated in the Holocaust.<ref>{{cite web|title="If You Only Knew How Many Jews I Have Shot"|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/finland-confronts-its-wwii-history-if-you-only-knew-how-many-jews-i-have-shot-a-8dea1e8a-6171-4a74-9673-2edb26ea2deb|date=31 March 2025|work=[[Der Spiegel]]}}</ref>

Finns Party politicians have frequently supported anti-Muslim movements such as the Finnish Defense League, [[Soldiers of Odin]], [[Nordic Resistance Movement]] (NRM), Rajat Kiinni (Close the Borders), and Suomi Ensin (Finland First). An anti-mosque demonstration was supported by the youth branch of the PS, whose chair, Jarmo Keto, said that, "Islam as an ideology is responsible for many conflicts and terror attacks. Thus such a mosque project is an irresponsible idea".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-the-finns-party/ |title=FACTSHEET: THE FINNS PARTY |website=Bridge Initiative |publisher=Georgetown University |access-date=2 May 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122025209/https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-the-finns-party/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Members of the Finns Party have attracted criticism from the other parties and [[Anti-fascism|antifascists]] for attending events organized by or with the NRM. Two municipal-level politicians of the Finns Party have taken part in an event where the participants shot and threw knives at [[shooting target]]s, using photos of members of the [[Rinne Cabinet]].

The Finns Party's parliamentary group's general secretary, [[Olli Immonen]], attended an NRM event commemorating [[Eugen Schauman]], who assassinated [[Nikolay Bobrikov]]. Some members of the party have been fired from as a result of contacts with the far-right.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/2db7ee43-1abe-410e-8859-08517425277d|title=Saat mitä tilaat - perussuomalaiset ovat flirttailleet äärioikeiston suuntaan jo vuosia ja nyt se on ongelma|publisher=[[Iltalehti]]|access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/e478c945-bd9a-464f-9b93-94d9118c7816|title=Mitä "kesäleirillä" oikein tapahtui? Perussuomalaiset selvittää, miksi heidän jäsenensä kilpailivat äärioikeistolaisten kanssa|publisher=[[Iltalehti]]|access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="euractiv">{{cite news |date= 15 April 2019 |title= Jussi Halla-aho, quiet hardliner behind Finland's populist uproar|url= https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/jussi-halla-aho-quiet-hardliner-behind-finlands-populist-uproar/ |work= EURACTIV.COM |access-date= 31 July 2020}}</ref> Immonen has also multiple times shared a blog criticizing the "[[Holocaust denial|Holocaust-religion]]".<ref name=Kotonen>{{cite web|url=https://www.tieteessatapahtuu.fi/kategoriat/arkistosta/32016/kuka-kiistaa-holokaustin-suhtautuminen-holokaustiin-kytkeytyy-nykyaan|title=Kuka kiistää holokaustin? Suhtautuminen holokaustiin kytkeytyy äärioikeiston sisäisiin jakolinjoihin|date=17 February 2025|work=[[:fi:Tieteessä tapahtuu|Tieteessä tapahtuu]]|author=Tommi Kotonen}}</ref>

In 2020, the party sacked the youth wing's vice leader Toni Jalonen for declaring himself a fascist at a conference in Estonia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finns Party to sack youth wing's vice chair for declaring himself a fascist |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-11225062 |website=[[Yle]] |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211205162015/https://yle.fi/news/3-11225062 |archive-date=5 December 2021 |date=24 February 2020}}</ref> The party additionally cut financial support to its youth wing, so it was declared bankrupt as a result. A new organization called ''Perussuomalainen nuoriso'' in Finnish was founded with new personnel to replace it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11359376|title=Perussuomalaiset nuoret hakeutui konkurssiin – Puheenjohtaja: "Yhdistys pitää kokouksen, jossa se lakkauttaa itsensä"|website=Yle Uutiset|date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

NRM and other far-right activists attend an [[612 march|annual torch march demonstration in Helsinki]] on the Finnish independence day which ends at the Hietaniemi cemetery where members visit the tomb of [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim]] and the monument to the [[Finnish volunteers in the Waffen-SS|Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS]]. According to [[B'nai B'rith]]'s report, "The main organizers and guests of the event have been drawn from either non-party-affiliated far-right-activists or members of the right-wing populist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), its youth organization Finns Party Youth (Perussuomalaiset Nuoret)".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bnaibrith.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AnnualMarchesGlorifyingNazism_Z105c.pdf|title=On Europe's Streets:Annual Marches Glorifying Nazism|quote=The main organizers and guests of the event have been drawn from either non-party-affiliated far-right-activists or members of the right-wing populist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), its youth organization Finns Party Youth (Perussuomalaiset Nuoret)...The 612-march is a torchlight procession from central Helsinki to the Hietaniemi war cemetery, where members visit the tomb of World War II-era President Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim and the monument to the Finnish SS-Battalion. There are speeches at both the assembly point and at the cemetery, eulogizing the Battle for Helsinki, depicted by speakers as the occasion “when Germans and Finns marched side by side and liberated the city from the communists.”|date=25 March 2023|work=[[B'nai B'rith]], [[Amadeu Antonio Foundation]], [[Federal Foreign Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://seura.fi/asiat/ajankohtaista/analyysi-itsenaisyyspaiva-vakiintui-natsien-ja-vasemmiston-mitteloksi-se-on-poikkeuksellista-varovaisen-mielenosoituskulttuurin-suomessa/|title=Analyysi: Itsenäisyyspäivä vakiintui natsien ja vasemmiston mittelöksi – Se on poikkeuksellista varovaisen mielenosoituskulttuurin Suomessa|date=27 March 2023|work=[[Seura]]|quote=612:n perustajiin kuuluva Teemu Lahtinen (ps.) kertoi Ylelle, että myös uusnatsit voivat osallistua marssille, kunhan eivät kanna omia tunnuksiaan.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/427922/neo-nazis-marching-on-the-streets-in-european-cities-despite-eu-bans|title=Neo-Nazis marching on the streets in European cities despite EU bans|quote=Helsinki, Finland, 'Towards Freedom' and '612 for freedom march' in memory of the Finnish SS-battalion which fought with Nazi Germany|date=28 March 2023|work=[[Brussels Times]]}}</ref>

Finns Party MP [[Vilhelm Junnila]] spoke at an event organized in memory of victims of a terrorist attack in 2019. His participation in the event was criticised in the media due to the event being organized by the NRM and Soldiers of Odin. The matter was especially brought up in the media after the formation of the [[Orpo Cabinet]] in 2023, where he was appointed [[Minister of Economic Affairs (Finland)|Minister of Economic Affairs]]. Junnila survived a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no-confidence]], but announced his resignation from the cabinet afterwards. He was replaced by [[Wille Rydman]], who gained attention for his multiple [[Nazism|nazi]]-related controversies after his appointment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government|title=Racism and rape fantasies: The PR headache facing Finland's new right-wing government|work=[[Euronews]]|date=21 June 2023|author=David Mac Dougall}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Julia |last=Wäschenbach |title=Rassismus-Debatte um Finnlands Regierung |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/korrespondenten/finnland-rechte-regierung-100.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>

Viljam Nyman, a Finns Party [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] area board member became a leader of the [[Atomwaffen Division]]'s Finnish chapter and a prominent adherent to the satanic [[Order of Nine Angles]] (ONA). Nyman's associate, a Finns party member born in 1980 and a fellow [[accelerationism]] and ONA adherent had dozens of his writings published by the official Finns party organ, Suomen Uutiset. Both were suspected of planning murders and terrorist attacks, and Nyman has been subsequently convicted of terror offenses. The person born in 1980 is also suspected of sending a string of [[letter bomb]]s to the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic]], [[Green League]] and [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]] parties' offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20059419|title=Puoluetoimistojen valepommi-iskuista epäilty "maisteri" on ollut perussuomalaisten jäsen|work=[[Yleisradio]]|date=9 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="IL">{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/1720f84f-a9de-4c0e-953d-9059a8c9fc0f|title=Kolmelle miehelle tuomiot terrorismirikoksista|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=October 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20058829|title=Salaisuus metsässä|work=[[Yleisradio]]|date=8 November 2023}}</ref>

A Finns Party [[Espoo]] city council member [[Jiri Keronen]] told that he "avows" the teachings of ONA and that he is republishing their works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/8ff3ca2e-f96a-4839-9fe2-823a32820a43|title=PS:n espoolainen kuntapoliitikko haluaa julkaista satanistien opaskirjan – "Ehdottomasti kiinnisanoudun opetuksiin"|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=26 November 2023}}</ref>

On 9 May 2024, the Finns Party council expelled [[Timo Vornanen]] alongside [[Teuvo Hakkarainen]] from the party, because of the police suspecting that Timo Vornanen pointed at a group of people with a gun and then shot the ground after an argument on the 26 April in the [[Kamppi]] subdivision of [[Helsinki]], outside a bar. After the shooting incident, Vornanen has been on sick leave from the parliament.<ref name="VornanenYle">{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Purra: Vornasen ja Hakkaraisen erottamisen syyt "kaikille selvät" – Hakkarainen: perussuomalaisista on tullut kokoomuksen "beagle" |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20088330 |website=Yle |lang=fi}}</ref>

He announced on May 14 that he'd give up his parliamentary committee seats to the rest of the Finns Party to decide on replacements. He also posted on [[Facebook]] that he would leave the [[Joensuu]] city council's Finns Party council group and create his own city council and parliamentary groups.<ref name="VornanenESS">{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Vornanen luopuu valiokuntapaikoistaan |url=https://www.ess.fi/uutissuomalainen/6766211 |website=Etelä-Suomen Sanomat |lang=fi}}</ref>

Former [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] Teuvo Hakkarainen, on the other hand, was expelled from the party because he stood as a candidate for the [[European Parliament]] on the [[Freedom Alliance (Finland)|Freedom Alliance]]'s list. He claims that he did this because the Finns Party's leadership had "left the field" and adopted a mentality of kicking people out if they even slightly questioned the party's leadership or criticised their actions.<ref name="VornanenYle" />

Members of the party, [[Juho Eerola]] and [[Kaisa Garedew]] posted derogatory images against Asian people in December 2025, after [[Miss Finland]] winner [[Sarah Dzafce]] posted an image pulling corners of her eyes with the caption "eating with a Chinese".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-12-20 |title=Finland faces yet another racist scandal |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/12/20/finland-faces-yet-another-racist-scandal_6748691_4.html |access-date=2025-12-21 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Miss Finland accused of racism |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/miss-finland-photo-9.7022467 |access-date=21 December 2025}}</ref><ref>https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16235981</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1=Arter |first1=David |last2=Kestilä-Kekkonen |first2=Elina |title=Measuring the Extent of Party Institutionalisation: The Case of a Populist Entrepreneur Party |journal=West European Politics |date=2014 |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=932–956 |doi=10.1080/01402382.2014.911486|s2cid=144217768 }}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://www.perussuomalaiset.fi/kielisivu/in-english/ Official website] (in English)

{{Finns Party}}
{{Finnish political parties}}
{{Finnish far right}}

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